Former Bank of Moscow president Andrei Borodin has sued the bank asking for 140 million rubles ($4.8 million) compensation for an early termination of his labor contract, his lawyer Mikhail Dolomanov said late on Wednesday.
Borodin was head of Bank of Moscow, the capital's investment vehicle under former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, since its inception 16 years ago. The bank was taken over in February by state-run lender VTB, after President Dmitry Medvedev had fired Luzhkov last year over a lack of trust.
Dolomanov said that according to his contract, Bank of Moscow should have paid Borodin his full salary for the entire term in office stated in the contract.
"However, to date, the funds have not been paid. This is why we have filed a lawsuit to the Meshchansky court demanding payment of over 140 million rubles to Borodin plus interest," Dolomanov said, adding that the hearing was scheduled for September 5.
Borodin plans to give any money awarded to charity, said Dolomanov. Borodin, who together with his aide held 20.3 percent in Bank of Moscow, strongly opposed the acquisition of his bank by VTB, but in spring he finally gave up and sold his stake to businessman Vitaly Yusufov.
A recent check of Bank of Moscow revealed a significant hole in its assets, prompting the state to provide it with a baillout of 400 billion rubles, a record sum for the Russian banking system. Borodin has fled Russia, is wanted on an international arrest warrant and denies any wrongdoing.
